Based on the canine Bow (who resembles Spuds MacKenzie), star of a popular manga and anime series, Pop'n Smash is.... well, a Sanrio Smash! clone. Spuds was famous for herSuper Bowl '87 commercial, by the way

It controls and plays verymuch like Sanrio Smash,right down to the chargingbar-power shot (which canalso hit the ball twice insuccession under the rightcircumstances). Talk aboutshameless!

So, what's different? This has more options. In Sanrio 2P mode you have a choice of four characters and 20 stages. Here you have six characters and 30 stages. There are even 9 different tools to choose, ranging from mallets to baseball bats to brooms to even, a branch! I haven't, however, been able to discern if these various tools have pluses and minuses... or if they just serve as cosmetics, but nonetheless variety is the spice of life

The 1-Player version is limited to a choice of 4. Here, Bow opts for the twig over the tennis racket... wise choice my friend... wise choice

Even the powerups are similar.One eliminates all blocks protecting the opposition's goal line, anotherinstantly gives you full power. Butthere's at least one different icon:The Bomb. You're frozen in placefor a good 4, 5 seconds if it touchesyou. Pretty cool

Bomb just released at the top there

You can also dive to make amazing last second saves and stops. Slide north, south, west or east by pressing Y and the appropriate direction. Good stuff I say

Go through each character in 1P mode, with the VS. screen showing the password on bottom much like Sanrio. Hmmmm

Another big difference: more freedom to roam. Many stages are void of restrictive X marks, unlike Sanrio. There are some stages with restriction points, but most allow you to go anywhere. I only wish you could beat up the opponent as well, what great fun that would be, sort of a Pong-slash-beat-em-up but alas, I'm digressing

Oh c'mon you wish you could press-slam her too...Or at least smack her upside the head with the mallet

There's also a "catch-as-many- butterflies-as-you-can-in-forty seconds" mini-game in the 1P mode

Sayaka displays the powershot.Unfortunately for her, it is mostill-timed. The ball will ricochet offthe barrier and into her own goal line

Certain objects are breakable, like these pots

Bow dives to perserve his blocks

Sayaka's helpless expression as the ball sails past her reach is too cute

I really enjoyed the little touches in Pop'n Smash. The additional options it has over Sanrio -- one might assume give it perhaps a stronger lifespan, and THUS the overall edge... but Sanrio plays better. I can't put my finger on it, but it just feels a little bit more polished than this game